4. How did you use media technologies in the

construction and research, planning and evaluation

stages?

Anna Skelding

CONSTRUCTION

iMovie

Throughout the construction process, iMovie was the main media technology that I used in order to create my product. Before starting my advanced portfolio, I rarely had the opportunity to use iMovie and therefore began creating my trailer with limited knowledge. Because of

this, I decided to begin watching YouTube tutorials which taught me how to use more advanced tools on the

programme. For example, I learnt how to cut background music in order to pick the exact part of the song needed. I

did this by using the ‘Clip Trimmer’ tool. I have mainly used this technique during the first half of my trailer as I felt that the chorus worked well with the footage and fast

pace aim that I was hoping for in order to reflect the narrative.

iMovieThe screenshot to right

shows how I cut the song that I used within my trailer. I did this by

clicking on the song itself, followed by the

setting button and then clip trimmer.

On the bottom of the screen, the song appears and it allows you to move the two yellow bars that can be seen on the screenshot to the right in order to choose the section of the music desired.

iMovie

I also used tools on iMovie throughout the construction process of my film trailer such as

Video Adjustments. I did this in order to change the colour on parts of my footage in order to suit my genre and narrative. I did this mainly through the first half of my trailer in order to fit in with the fast pace editing and upbeat atmosphere, as well as

connoting that the characters were confused due to the consumption of alcohol/drugs. Before,

producing my trailer, I was not aware that you could do this, however now I feel that if I were to create a new project, I would confidence in using

this tool.

iMovieCOLOUR:

The images to the left show screenshots of

footage within my movie of where I

changed the colours. The other screenshots

show I used technologies in order to do this. As you can see I altered the contrast and also changed the ‘White Point’ in order to create

a new colour.If I was unhappy with

the colour, it was also easy to go back to the

Video Adjustments tool and redo the editing, or

even revert the clip back to its original

appearance.

iMovieEFFECTS:

As well as changing

the colour of certain

parts of my footage, I

also added video

effects to other parts in order to

make it more

defined and striking.

iMovieIt could be argued that I used media technologies within iMovie through the construction process of my trailer through my use of audio effects. I used this at the beginning of my trailer during the first piece of music by adding a ‘muffled’ effect. I did this as I felt it created tension and made the opening of my trailer more dramatic.

iMovie

As well as using the technology provided by iMovie to add audio effects, I also altered the volume on particular parts of my trailer

in order for the characters to be heard over the background music. I did this by clicking on the settings of the clip, followed by audio adjustments. I then reduced the percentage of volume within the background music and increased the volume of the

clip itself. Before beginning the production of my trailer I did not know how to do this, however as I began to get more used to the programme, I discovered how to and now feel confident in using

this technique as a form of altering my work.

iMovie

I feel that I also took advantage of the technology on iMovie by using slow motion and speeding up parts of my footage. I did this in order to make parts look more dramatic and to help synchronize the song with the actions in my footage.

Photoshop

Photoshop was the main platform used in order to create my ancillary products, one being a film

poster and the other being a magazine cover. Due to previously creating a music magazine for my

Foundation Portfolio, I had a pre-knowledge of how to work the programme. However, although I had previous experience I needed to try and improve

my work due to the jump from AS to A2, in order to meet the requirements of this years products.

Praktica Camera

In order to produce footage for my trailer, I used a HD video camera provided by the school. As I have

never previously created a trailer before, I have rarely filmed events before. Due to this, I practiced filming quite a lot of my footage before starting the

real thing in so that I could get used to how the camera worked.

As some of the footage from my film was supposedly filmed by a group of ordinary teenagers

themselves, rather than a professional camera crew I had to make sure that a majority of what I

filmed looked natural and as if it were hand held by the characters.

SLR Digital Camera

I used a digital camera in order to take images for both of my ancillary products. I felt confident whilst using the camera due to previously using it in order to take pictures for my

Foundation Portfolio at AS.

I originally took images for my magazine cover in daylight, however after looking at the pictures I felt that they were not as daring and eye catching as I desired due to the lighting. Because of this, I re-took the images in the evening using

flash and felt that they came out better and highlighted the rebellious aspect of my film.

I felt that using this piece of technology during the construction process of work was effective as it made the images more defined, professional looking and therefore

more realistic.

DAFONT.COMI also used the Internet as a form of technology during the construction process of my film and ancillary products. I mainly used this platform in order to find a recognizable and unique font for the title of my film. I did this by going on the website ‘dafont.com’ which provides both authentic and well known fonts online which can be downloaded for free.

I felt that using a unique font for my title was effective as it worked in the same way that a logo would and was therefore good for brand recognition.

I also downloaded fonts from this website to use on my iMovie instead of using existing ones that are programmed onto the computer system. I did this to make the font more original as well stand out more.

RESEARCH & PLANNING

Google DocsI used the platform ‘Google Docs’ during the research stage of my production. I used this mainly for audience feedback as I uploaded a series of questions about my ancillary products

and trailer in order to help me with improvements and decisions. I feel that Google Docs was an effective way to do this as it is easily accessible for both me and those answering

the questionnaires and it displays results in a sophisticated manner.

FlipSnack, SlideShare, Scribd

I used all three of these platforms as a way of presenting my research and planning. I am familiar with both FlipSnack and SlideShare as I frequently

used them during my Foundation Portfolio. However, I did not feel as confident when using

Scribd as I have not used it as much. Although I did not have much experience with the platform, I now

feel that I would feel more confident in using it.

MICROSOFT

I used Microsoft Word in order to produce my textual analysis’s of film posters. As I was

introduced to the software at a young age, I was aware on how to use it.

I chose to use Microsoft Word as it displays work in a clear and aesthetically pleasing manner.

EVALUATION

iMovie

I have used media technologies in the process of my evaluation as a form of presenting them. I have used the platforms that I am comfortable with, for

example, FlipSnack. However, after reading the examiners feedback from last years work, I felt that

it would be a good idea to produce one of my questions through iMovie. I felt confident in doing

so after developing skills from the production of my film trailer.

OVERALL

Blogger

I have used blogger throughout all of the stages of my production as I have kept a log of my progress

whilst creating my trailer and two ancillary products. I feel that Blogger is an effective platform to use as a way of presenting work as it has helped me keep track of where I am up to. After creating a blog last year as a way of showcasing my work, I

have been confident in using the programme.